Railroad



(No Model.)

J. E. NATHAN.

RAILROAD APPLIANCE.

No. 353,754. Patented Dee. 7, 1886.

l um l :Wfl

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JOHN E. NATHAN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y,

RAILROAD APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION l{o1-ming pari: of Letters Patent No. 353,754, dated December 7, 1886,

(No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN E. NATHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means and facilities to assist in replacing cars and other rolling-stock on the track after the same have been derailed from any cause; and my invention consists in the features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan View of a railroad-rail with one of my appliances connected thereto. Fig. 2 is an end elevation taken in line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing a section of the car-wheel in place. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of two of my sections of the rail as attached together when in use. Fig. 4 is a view or" a section of my rail from the bottom side. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe end section where the car or other piece 'of rolling-stock is received in returningit to the track; and Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken in line 6 6 of Fig. l, sh owing a section ofthe rail and of the method of attaching my appliance to the same.

In the drawings, A is a railroad-rail, B, a flexible jointed section by which lthe cars are returned to the track; C, the end section for receiving the car; D, the end section for delivering the car on the rail; E, a hole or collar in the ends of the different sections for attach- `ing them together; F, a coupling link or projection for connecting the sections together, G, the car-wheel; II, a flange for embracing the railroad-rail at the point of connection between the piece D and such rail, and I a groove for receiving the flange of the car-wheel while returning the same to the track.

In making my improved means for replacing derailed cars and other milling-stock on the track where the same have been by accident derailed I make a number of sections of rail, which may be fastened together and extended to any distance from the main track desired to reach the cars. I make the lirst section, which engages with the rails of the track, with a flange to overlap and embrace the top ofthe rail, so as to make a iirm and secure connection, as well as guide the wheels of the car into their proper places on the track. This section is provided at its outer end with a link or coupler for attaching it to another section. Each section of my temporary track is provided at one end with a link or coupler to enable it to be attached to its fellow. This coupler is preferably T-shaped at the end, as shown in Fig. 4. Each section is provided at the opposite end from this coupler with a collar or hole. (Shown more particularly in Fig. 5, and designated by the letter E) This collar is of a slot shape, so that by turning the section of 6 the track to be attached to it on edge the T shape of the coupler may be readily introduced into the collar, when by turning it back into its normal position the head of the T will he turned, so that it cannot be'withdrawn from the collar or slot. In this way as many sections of the track as may be necessary or desired may loe attached together and the temporary track extended to the car which is intended to be replaced on the track. Of course 7 it will be understood that two of these rails will be laid parallel to cach other, and ofproper width to receive the wheels of the ear. These sections are also made somewhat rounding at their ends, to enable the track to be curved and extended in any direction necessary to reach the derailed car.

Owing to the means used for connecting the various sections of the track together, they will be entirely flexible, so as to it the inequalities ofthe surface of the ground as they are bein-g laid toward the car. This makes it unnecessary to specially prepare the ground for the reception of my track. Each of these sections is provided with a groove or hollow along its longitudinal upper surface, in which the flange ofthe car-wheel is placed, and along which it travels in its progress to the main track. These grooves prevent the ear-wheel from slipping off and prevent the rails from spreading apart, as it is not intended that ties or other connecting-pieces need be required. The end ofthis groove in the piece D, connecting with -the track, extends to such a point onthe inside of the rail as that the flange of the wheel will be carried directly in place, 'so that the tread of the wheel will fall into position on the track. This is plainly shown in Fig. 1.

Iprefer to make my sections of flexible track of greater diameter atvthe bottom than at the top, as shown more particularly'i'n Figs. 2.`and 5, -so that they will occupy a rm and immovable position when laid in place.

5 It will be seen that one of the important uses to which my device may be applied is the making of temporary switches where it may be del sired to run one or more cars oft' to the sideof the track for any purpose. In that case all that Io will be necessary will beto pnt a temporary track in place, extending as far from the main track as desired, and run the cars off on it. The vconnection with the main track can be immediately broken by removing the piece D,

15 and renewed by laying itagain in place.

What I consider as neW,-and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a main' track and a vertically and laterally ilexilble temporary track for removing and replacing cars and rollingstock on the main track, substantially a described.

2. A temporary track for removing and replacing cars and rolling-stock on'l the main track, consisting of detachable sections hooked or linked together, whereby the track is rendered vertically and laterally flexible and eX- tensible, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a main track and a vertically and laterally flexible temporary track forvreplacing derailed cars and rollingstock, consisting of detachable grooved sections hooked or linked together, substantially as described.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. DoUGLAs, GEORGE C. Cook.

JOHN E. NATHAN. 

